Solar cell and method for manufacturing solar cell

Abstract

A solar cell includes a plurality of unit cells connected in series and a first partition portion. Each of the unit cells includes a substrate, a first electrode layer formed on the substrate, a semiconductor layer formed on the first electrode layer, and a second electrode layer formed on the semiconductor layer. The first partition portion has insulation properties and partitions the first electrode layers of the unit cells on the substrate with each the first electrode layers being disposed respectively in a region partitioned by the first partition portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A solar cell comprising:
 a plurality of unit cells connected in series with each of the unit cells including a substrate, a first electrode layer formed on the substrate, a semiconductor layer formed on the first electrode layer, and a second electrode layer formed on the semiconductor layer; and   a first partition portion having insulation properties and partitioning the first electrode layers of the unit cells on the substrate with each the first electrode layers being disposed respectively in a region partitioned by the first partition portion.   
     
     
         2 . The solar cell according to  claim 1 , wherein
 a top surface of the first partition portion is substantially flash with top surfaces of the first electrode layers.   
     
     
         3 . A solar cell comprising:
 a plurality of unit cells connected in series with each of the unit cells including a substrate, a first electrode layer formed on the substrate, a semiconductor layer formed on the first electrode layer, and a second electrode layer formed on the semiconductor layer; and   a second partition portion having insulation properties and partitioning the semiconductor layers and the second electrode layers of the unit cells on the substrate, with each set of the semiconductor layers and the second electrode layers being disposed respectively in a region partitioned by the second partition portion.   
     
     
         4 . The solar cell according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the semiconductor layers form a groove portion communicating the first electrode layer with the second electrode layer in a region adjacent to the second partition portion with the second electrode layer being formed in the groove portion.   
     
     
         5 . The solar cell according to  claim 3 , further comprising
 a conductive layer disposed in a region adjacent to the second partition portion with the conductive layer electrically connecting the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer.   
     
     
         6 . The solar cell according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the conductive layer is formed using a material having lower electrical resistivity than the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer.   
     
     
         7 . A method for manufacturing a solar cell having a plurality of unit cells connected in series, each of the unit cells including a substrate, a first electrode layer, a semiconductor layer, and a second electrode layer, the method for manufacturing a solar cell comprising:
 forming a first partition portion on the substrate to partition a plurality of regions respectively corresponding to the first electrode layers of the unit cells;   forming the first electrode layer of each of the unit cells in a corresponding one of the regions partitioned by the first partition portion;   forming a second partition portion on the first electrode layer to partition a plurality of regions respectively corresponding to the semiconductor layers and the second electrode layers of the unit cells;   forming the semiconductor layer of each of the unit cells in a corresponding one of the regions partitioned by the second partition portion;   removing a portion of the semiconductor layer of each of the unit cells in the thickness direction to form a groove portion extending to the first electrode layer; and   forming the second electrode layer of each of the unit cells on the semiconductor layer and in the groove portion in a corresponding one of the regions partitioned by the second partition portion.   
     
     
         8 . The method for manufacturing a solar cell according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the removing of the portion of the semiconductor layer includes removing the portion of the semiconductor layer in a region adjacent to the second partition portion to form the groove portion in the region adjacent to the second partition portion.   
     
     
         9 . A method for manufacturing a solar cell having a plurality of unit cells connected in series, each of the unit cells including a substrate, a first electrode layer, a semiconductor layer, and a second electrode layer, the method for manufacturing a solar cell comprising:
 forming a first partition portion on the substrate to partition a plurality of regions respectively corresponding to the first electrode layers of the unit cells;   forming the first electrode layer of each of the unit cells on the substrate in a corresponding one of the regions partitioned by the first partition portion;   forming a second partition portion on the first electrode layer to partition a plurality of regions respectively corresponding to the semiconductor layers and the second electrode layers of the unit cells;   forming a conductive layer on the first electrode layer of each of the unit cells in a corresponding one of the regions partitioned by the second partition portion with the conductive layer electrically connecting the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer;   forming the semiconductor layer of each of the unit cells on the first electrode layer in a corresponding one of the regions partitioned by the second partition portion; and   forming the second electrode layer of each of the unit cells on the semiconductor layer in a corresponding one of the regions partitioned by the second partition portion.   
     
     
         10 . The method for manufacturing a solar cell according to  claim 9 , wherein
 the forming of the conductive layer includes forming the conductive layer in a region adjacent to the second partition portion.